Doll joint

ABSTRACT

A toy doll having upper and lower torso components movably related to each other and characterized by the connection of the two-torso components together by means which permits rotational movement of one torso component relative to the other as well as a bowing or dipping movement simultaneous with the rotational movement.

United States Patent Glass et a1.

[ DOLL JOINT [72] Inventors: Marvin 1. Glass; Rouben T. Terzian,

both of Chicago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass 8: Associates [22] Filed: March 31, 1971[21] Appl. No.: 129,761

[52] US. Cl ..46/162 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 3/36 [58] Field of Search..46/161, 162, 173, 119, 163

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,277,602 10/1966 Speers eta1. ..46/161 3,254,442 6/1966 Ostrander ..46/161 3,246,422 4/1966Teagarden "46/173 X 2,836,929 6/1958 Weih ..46/162 Ostrander ..46/ 161 1Oct. 24, 1972 3,221,442 12/1965 Estem et al ..46/161 X FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS 369,103 1923 Germany ..46/ 173 Primary Examiner-Louis G.Mancene Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold Attorney-J. F. Coffee, JamesM. Wetzel, J. R. Sweeney, J. Robert Stapleton, W. R. McNair and John R.Hoffman [5 7] ABSTRACT A toy doll having upper and lower torsocomponents movably related to each other and characterized by theconnection of the two-torso components together by means which permitsrotational movement of one torso component relative to the other as wellas a bowing or dipping movement simultaneous with the rotationalmovement.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures DOLL JOINT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates to toys, and moreparticularly, to an improvement in the torso connection of a doll havingrelatively movable upper and lower torso components.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art There have been many attempts atproviding life-like qualities to dolls so as to enhance theattractiveness of the doll to the child who is playing with, or using,the doll. Some attempts at providing life-like qualities to the dollshave been in the nature of dolls that will simulate crying or eating, ordolls that simulate the growing of hair, or the like.

It has been known in the art to provide dolls with limbs which aremovable relative to the torso so that arms or legs may swing to simulatea walking movement. Also, there have been recent attempts to providedolls wherein the torso components are movable relative to each other.One such attempt in the art is shown in the Ryan et al. US. Pat. No.3,425,155.

In the structure shown in the Ryan patent, the upper torso componentsare connected together by co-planar end portions which are formed at apredetermined acute angle to result in twisting movement as the uppertorso component is turned relative to the lower torso.

Since dolls have always been a well-received toy in the art,improvements in dolls are favorably received, and it is the object ofthis invention to provide a doll having an improvement in the connectionof relatively movable upper and lower torso components so as to producea relative bowing or dipping movement as well as a turning movementduring rotation of the components relative to each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to theprovision of an improved doll having a relatively movable upper andlower torso components wherein the two components may be moved toprovide a simulated bowing and twisting movement.

There are two modes currently contemplated for carrying out theinvention. In one mode, the bottom of the upper torso portion isprovided with a semi-spherical ball surface which mates with asemi-spherical seating or socket surface in the top of the lower torsoportion. The seating surface in the lower torso portion is provided witha circular opening therein and a segmental spherical flange supported ona stub depends downwardly from the spherical seating surface of theupper torso and overlays the opening in the lower torso seating surfaceso that the upper torso portion of the doll may be universally rotatedby hand. In another mode of the invention, the upper torso terminates ina truncated spherical segment and the lower torso has an annular openingtherein of a size and shape to receive the truncated depending portionof the upper torso. A rod extends through openings in the lower torsoportion and through inclined slots in the depending portion of the uppertorso to guide dipping or bowing movement of the upper portions as theupper torso is twisted relative to the lower torso portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A is a view of the doll of thisinvention in an upright position;

FIG. 1B is a view of the doll of this invention showing the dollslightly turned and bowed to one side;

FIG. 1C is a view of the doll of this invention showing it slightlyturned to another side;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view through the connectionof the upper and lower torso portions of one mode of the doll of thisinvention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section view taken generally along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged section view through the upper andlower torso connection of another mode of the doll of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a section view taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 5;and

FIG. 7 is a section view taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail two embodiments therefor, with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principlesof the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to theembodiments illustrated.

The doll 10 of this invention includes an upper torso portion, generallyindicated 12, having a simulated head with simulated facial features 16and simulated hair 18. In addition, upper limbs 20, such as the armsillustrated herein, are preferably movably connected to the upper torso12 through a swingable joint, generally indicated at 20a.

The lower torso 22 of the doll 10 includes lower limbs 24, such as thelegs, illustrated herein, which are also preferably swingably connectedto the lower torso by means of a swingable joint, generally illustratedherein at 24a.

This invention is directed to an improvement in a twistable connectionof the upper torso 12 relative the lower torso 22, herein generallyillustrated as a means 26 for connecting the upper and lower torsoportions together for semi-spherical movement. One mode of thisconnecting means 26 is shown in FIGS. 2 through 4. As shown therein, theupper torso l2 terminates in a semi-spherical depending ball portion orbottom 28. A short stub 30 depends therefrom and supports a segmentalspherical flange 32. The lower torso 22 has a semi-spherical socket orseat 34, generally of a size and shape to nestably receive thesemi-spherical bottom 28, of upper torso 22. In addition, the lowertorso 'seat 34 has a circular opening 36 which is slightly smaller thanthe flange 32 of the semi-spherical bottom 28. When flange 32 underliesthe seat 34 it holds the upper and lower torso components togetheragainst unintended withdrawal, but permits relative rotational movementof the two.

The upper torso 12 terminates in a recess formed in annular shoulders 38on the underside thereof, ad-

jacent the depending semi-spherical bottom 28. Similarly, the lowertorso is also provided with an annular shoulder 40 which is adjacent theupper annular shoulder 38 but spaced a short distance therefrom. Theseshoulders cooperate, together with the limitation afforded by the stub30 within the circular opening 36, to limit the amount of bending,bowing, or twisting movement which may be imparted to the upper torsorelative to the lower torso. By the arrangement described herein, thereis effectively provided a balland-socket joint between the upper andlower torso portions. The lower torso guides the upper torso whichfollows thereon with relative movement thereof limited by both circularopening 36 and stub 32 as well as the shoulders 38 and 40. The child oruser of the doll may rotate the upper portion of the torso relative tothe lower portion under hand guidance and may impart the degree oftilting or bowing motion thereto at the same time, within thelimitations heretofore mentioned.

Another mode of this invention is shown in FIGS. 5 through 7. As showntherein, the upper torso portion 12 terminates in a recess that forms anannular shoulder 52. A truncated spherical ball member 54 depends fromthe upper torso 12 adjacent the annular shoulder 52. The lower torso 22has an annular shoulder 56 at the top thereof, and terminates in acircular opening 58 of a size and shape to nestably receive the ballmember 54 of the upper torso 12. The opening 58 assists in guiding thetruncated member 54 as it follows thereon during movement of the twotorso components to be described.

Aligned openings 60a and 60b are provided in the lower torso portions inthe upper area thereof, just below the circular opening 58. Theseopenings receive a rod 62 in a fixed relationship therewith whichextends completely across the spaced openings. If desired, the rod 62may be provided with enlarged ends 62a and 62b to insure the fixedsecurement of the rod 62 with respect to the openings 60a and 60b.

The truncated spherical ball member 54 which depends from the uppertorso 12 has a pair of generally inclined slots 64 and 66 spacedopposite each other. These inclined slots terminate in closed ends, suchas shown at 64a and 64b with respect to the slot 64. The width of eachof the slots is such so as to closely embrace the rod 62. Thus, thetorso is not free to move vertically with respect to the lower torso,but the rod 62 is free to traverse laterally relative to the slots 64and 66. The sides of the slots act as guides for the upper torsorelative to the rod so that the upper torso tracks positively through abowing or dipping movement while it is rotated relative to the lowertorso.

Thus, each of the embodiments disclosed herein provides a means forconnecting the upper torso of a doll to the lower torso forsemi-spherical or a bending and clipping movement. In the embodimentshown in FIGS. 2 through 4, the movement will be guided entirely by theuser while in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 through 7 the dippingmovement is guided by the connecting structure as an act of rotation. Ineither event, the user may produce a simulated twisting and dippingmovement while playing with the doll.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in theart.

The embodiments of the invention In which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A toy doll comprising: means defining an upper torso, including asimulated head and upper limbs attached thereto; means defining a lowertorso including simulated lower limbs attached thereto; means connectingthe upper and lower torsos together for movement relative to each other;said connecting means including a socket-like cavity in one of the upperand lower torso and a ball segment extension on the other of the upperand lower torso with an inclined pin-like slot in one of the upper andlower torso extending generally from a lower to upper torso directionand a pin-like follower carried by the other of the upper and lowertorso and tracking in said pin-like slot whereby, when said upper andlower torso are rotated relative to each other, the rotation willproduce tilting as well as relative twisting movement between the twocomponents.

2. The toy doll of claim 1 wherein the socket is in the lower torso andthe ball segment extension depends downwardly from the upper torso.

3. The toy doll of claim 2 wherein the inclined slot is formed on theball segment extension which depends from the upper torso.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIUN Patent N DatedOctober 24,

Inventor) MARVIN I. GLASS, ROUBEN T. TERZIAN It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 4, line 32 'pinlike" should be deleted.

Col. 4, line 36 "pin-like should be changed to inclineda Signed andsealed this 27th day of March 1973.

(SEAL) AtteSt I EDWARD M.FLETCI-IER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK AttestingOfficer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U.S. GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: 1969 Q366'334

1. A toy doll comprising: means defining an upper torso, including asimulated head and upper limbs attached thereto; means defining a lowertorso including simulated lower limbs attached thereto; means connectingthe upper and lower torsos together for movement relative to each other;said connecting means including a socket-like cavity in one of the upperand lower torso and a ball segment extension on the other of the upperand lower torso with an inclined pin-like slot in one of the upper andlower torso extending generally from a lower to upper torso directionand a pin-like follower carried by the other of the upper and lowertorso and tracking in said pin-like slot whereby, when said upper andlower torso are rotated relative to each other, the rotation willproduce tilting as well as relative twisting movement between the twocomponents.
 2. The toy doll of claim 1 wherein the socket is in thelower torso and the ball segment extension depends downwardly from theupper torso.
 3. The toy doll of claim 2 wherein the inclined slot isformed on the ball segment extension which depends from the upper torso.